Thill-coupling



- (No Model.)

J. HARPOLD.

THILL COUPLING.

PatentedJune 9, 1885.

JOSEPH HARPOLD lmtne'ases.

M/Mz, .4. 5%

linirrn STATES ATENT rricn.

JOSEPH I IARPOLD, OF HARRISBURG, ILLINOIS.

THlLL-COUPLING.

ESPECIFIQATIGN forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,483, dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed March 9, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, Josnrrr HARPOLD, a a resident of the town of Harrisburg, in the county of Saline and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thin-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to simplify and improve that class of thill-couplings in which the connection is made, by means of a hook and a swinging lever, in a manner that permits of ready detachment. Couplings of this class as heretofore constructed have been too complicated and loosely arranged to be of practical utility, and as in the patents to Hard, No. 216,270, June 10, 1879, and Lauth, No. 217,696, July 27, 1879, the retaining-leverhas been so shortened by the necessities of the general construction as to greatly impair its power.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of my device, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a termination of a shaft or pole. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my device with its attaching mechanism in position to receive the shaft. Fig. 4 is a plan of a. portion of an axle with one of my devices in position thereon.

a represents a clamp adapted in form and size to fit over the axle of a vehicle.

i is a plate that fits against the under surface of the axle, and in l are nuts and bolts that secure (Land 6 to the same.

a is a hook-formed projection on clamp a, that acts as a point'of attachment for the vehicle-shafts.

f is a pivot in the upper termination of hook it.

b is a lever conforming to the upper surface of a, hinged at e to pivot f, provided with catch-extension c, and also provided with conformation d, which fits into the space indicated by d in Fig. 3.

0 in Fig. 2 represents a rivet in shaft termination p p, which rests in hole h, and is secured from detachment by conformation d.

g in Fig. 4 represents a portion of a vehicleaxle, and g in Figs. 1 and 3 represents the space said axle occupies.

k is a spring that retains lever Z) in the position indicated in Fig. 1.

The upper portion of clamp a is recessed to receive the lever b, and the general construction of the entire device should be compact and symmetrical.

A pair of the clamps are secured-to an axle by means of bolts m, and in attaching or detaching the shafts or pole levers b are released from catch is and raised into the position indicated in Fig. 3.

To prevent rattling, and to compensate for wear, rivet 0 may be provided, either partly or entirely, with an elastic covering.

The lever b is broadened at d for the purpose of increasing its bearingsn rface, and the slot in the top of the clam p effectually prevents lateral motion in the lever, the effect in each instance being to increase the permanency of theattachment and prevent rattling. By placing the spring-catch to the rear of the clamp the detaining-power of the lever and catch is increased, while, as a matter of convenience in operation, the position is excellent.

It is evident that the form and arrangement of spring 70 and the form of the entire device may be modified without affecting the principle of my invention, which consists in the pe culiarities'of construction and combinations of parts set forth in the appended claim, as follows:

The combination, in a thill coupling, of clamp a, slotted, as set forth, and provided with hook n,-lever b, hinged at e to hook it, and formed to fit the slot in the clamp, broad ened portion (1 on lever b, and catch 70 on the rear portion of the clamp, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH HARPOLD.

WVitnesses:

R. S. Mnnsrr, JAS. M. Greece. 

